purpose.

"I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days, when you pray, I will listen. If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me."

I have been thinking about, "What is my purpose?" 

When you are little, you don't think so much about this. You just can't wait to get big so you can drive a car or go to youth or go on vacation with friends. 

Then at some point, you ask yourself this question, "What is my purpose?"

When i was a school teacher, my purpose was to get up everyday to be with and pour what i had to offer into my students. 

Then I moved to Arkansas. There, i felt needed and my life was so full.

I ran into this same question when my mentor term was over, and i stayed to be the teacher. It was a slower life and I had to get used to it. I was assigned to write an essay not long after this that is labeled 'What's your why?' and as i read over it, i realized how much it made sense all over again. 

"the first question that popped into my head was who gives you a why or a purpose?

A synonym to purpose is focus. Who or what do i focus on... in that i think i will find my purpose.

This brings me to something i went through not too long ago. My life. it had been full. overflowing and not much extra time to myself.

One afternoon i drove away... to a slower life. One that did not require me to be up before the sun or to sleep after it went down. I have so much time now. I'm not needed each day. What is my purpose? I went to asking God. + another human who gave me some very good advice. "Maybe this season is to 'just be' i was told...

Knowing God had put me here.. i was needed. I had purpose. Life just looked alittle different. A perspective change? Now, and i knew then, my life has been overflowing.. it is overflowing but in a way that is internal. I have time to live a life that i have so come to love and so very grateful to God that He has given me this opportunity and a place for me to 'just be.' I have purpose. And that purpose is to live so my life brings God glory.

Some verses that show God has a purpose + a plan:

Psalm 32:8- The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best path for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."

Isaiah 41:9 & 10- I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying "you are my servant." For i have chose you and will not throw you away. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up by my victorious right hand.

Written November 2023

Now, i have been asking this same question about purpose. you can think of all the normal ones... but deeply knowing and thinking about what my purpose is today. I have an overflowing life. A life i didn't know existed. but here i am. and my purpose today, isn't much different than it was back then. Circumstances have changed but the root of purpose is to 'do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.' 

With each big life change, do we ask ourselves, "What is my purpose?" Do we have to answer this question again and again?

xo